Australian actor Zoe Terakes, known for their role in the film “Talk to Me,” has spoken out about Kuwait’s decision to ban the movie, describing it as a targeted and dehumanizing act. The ban comes as a result of Terakes, who identifies as nonbinary and trans masculine, being part of the film’s cast. This is the first time Kuwait has banned a film solely based on the sexual or gender identity of a cast member, rather than the film’s themes or characters. Terakes took to Instagram to express their thoughts on the issue, sharing a screenshot of The Hollywood Reporter’s article and questioning whether it was even worth responding to. They highlighted that the film doesn’t focus on queer themes or explicitly mention their own transness, emphasizing that they are not a mere “theme,” but a person. Terakes expressed concern about the implications of this ban for the queer and trans community in Kuwait, stating that representation is crucial for marginalized individuals and the elimination of trans actors on screen would only diminish hope. They concluded their message by encouraging readers to support the Rainbow Coalition, an organization that assists queer and trans people facing persecution. “Talk to Me,” directed by Michael and Danny Philippou and distributed by A24, features Sophie Wilde as a high school student who can communicate with the dead by holding a severed hand belonging to Terakes’ character Hayley. Despite the ban in Kuwait, the low-budget horror film has been successful at the US box office, earning $22 million since its release on July 28. Terakes is set to appear in the upcoming Marvel TV show “Ironheart.”